Preview:Larne vs Santa Clara - prediction, team news, lineups

Larne will welcome Portuguese visitors Santa Clara to Ballymena Showgrounds on Thursday evening for the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie.

Having reached the group stage for the first time last season, the Northern Irish side are aiming to match that achievement, but must navigate two more rounds to get there.

Match preview

After getting a taste of continental football last season, Larne are hungry for more, with Nathan Rooney’s side having had to fight tooth and nail to reach this stage, needing penalty shoot-out victories to see off Auda and Prishtina following home and away draws in the first two rounds.

The Northern Irish champions are still yet to win a game or score at home in this season’s qualifiers, and improving that record could be vital if they want to progress again – with the quality of opposition only set to increase, Larne must find a higher gear, especially in the final third.

Thursday’s clash marks their first meeting with Santa Clara, though Larne do have history against Portuguese sides, having lost 4-2 on aggregate to Pacos de Ferreira in the third qualifying round of the 2021-22 edition.

However, confidence will not be in short supply, with Larne unbeaten in their last 19 matches across all competitions, a run that stretches back to March.

Santa Clara, back in Europe for the first time in three years, will be aiming to make a strong start to only their third-ever continental campaign.

The Portuguese side reached the playoff round of this competition in 2021-22 before bowing out to Partizan Belgrade, and they will be hoping to surpass that performance this time.

Having entered the competition in the previous round, the Azorean outfit had to bounce back from a 2-1 away defeat to Croatian side Varazdin by securing a 2-0 home win in the return leg, showing both character and quality.

This will be their first-ever meeting with a Northern Irish side, and they arrive unbeaten in both pre-season and competitive fixtures so far this term, giving them plenty of belief ahead of this trip.

Larne Conference League form:

Larne form (all competitions):

Santa Clara Conference League form:

Santa Clara form (all competitions):

Team News

Larne will be without striker Andy Ryan, who is set to miss several months with a serious knee injury sustained during pre-season.

Defender Cian Bolger remains doubtful due to a knock, while forward Paul O'Neill is suspended following his red card in extra time against Prishtina.

Santa Clara, meanwhile, have only one confirmed absentee, with experienced defender Pedro Pacheco still sidelined by a long-term cruciate ligament injury.

Forwards Vinicius Lopes and Gabriel Silva, who both scored in the second leg against Varazdin, are expected to support central striker Wendell once again.

Larne possible starting lineup:

Ferguson; Cosgrove, Donnelly, Nolan, Graham; Randall, Gallagher, Sloan; Bent, O’Connor, McKendry

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Pereira, Venancio, Rocha; Victor, Adriano, Ferreira, Soares; Lopes, Wendel, G. Silva

We say: Larne 0-1 Santa Clara

Larne are a resilient side with strong home support and an unbeaten run stretching back months, but their lack of goals in this year’s qualifiers is a concern.

Santa Clara arrive with momentum after overturning a deficit in the last round and possess more European experience - it could be a tight encounter, but the Portuguese side may edge it narrowly.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.